Ancient beads discovered in Morocco

The beads found at four sites in Morocco are similar to beads found previously in Algeria, Israel and South Africa, the European Science Foundation reported Friday.

The Moroccan shells have holes drilled through the center and some have signs of pigmentation and prolonged wear, said Francesco d’Errico, a director at the French National Center for Scientific Research.

Either people went to sea and collected them, or more likely marine shell beads helped create and maintain exchange networks between coastal and inland peoples, d’Errico said.